Dance with the Reaper

As they walked through the room designed to look like an old timey street. Mid Industrial revolution. Surrounded by walls of brick, and streets of withered cobble. They approached the centre stage. It looked shadowed underneath the stone colossus that towered over them. Marcus felt uneasy as it loomed over them. He felt its craggy eyes stare at them as they walked. However nothing happened. They walked through the centre of the small town without encountering anything. Marcus took a longer look at the statue.

It greatly resembled the giants they had fought earlier but it was much larger and much skinnier. It possessed no visible weapons and its face was locked in a perpetual smile. Like the Joker from Batman. It was unnerving to look at and seemed to look back at you. He studied it some more touching the stone. When his finger made contact. It felt more like putty not stone. It squished under his touch but nonetheless refused to move. He thought it was the boss but it turned out to be a clever decoy.

A noise was heard from one of the dark alleys. Like a scurrying, followed by a sick snarl. Beth chased after it, Marcus followed with his weapon drawn. They were careful. When it stealed into the shadows. They felt the expression. Pulled into the offensive was appropriate. Beth trailed behind Marcus. As per their usual attack plan. Everyone else was following close behind. Making very little noise.

It stopped moving hiding in the eerie black careful to remain hidden. Marcus felt his chest slamming as his heart beat with the tension. A vein on his neck bulged and pulsed as he grit his teeth. A scythe was the wrong weapon to use in closed off alley. Beth sniffed the ground. Marcus waited for her confirmation. Her eyes squinted, inevitably she looked back up towards Marcus. Her head swaying from left to right.

"Are you sure?" He asked, he had to be positive.

She nodded. Marcus relaxed, he turned the corner slowly. And laughed. Picking up the small creature.

"Its just a feathered dragon." He laughed taking deep breaths to calm himself down. He quickly got out of the inclosed space. Glad to be freed of it.

"Just a Feathered Dragon. Hey does anyone have any peanuts?" Amber asked the crowd everybody shrugged not knowing what she meant by that.

Beatrice laughed at the girls antics. She found it strange that there was no boss in the room. She quickly scanned the buildings. They had windows but curtains were covering the contents so they couldn't be peered inside. There were no doors. That she found strange. Plus the statue in the…

"Guys. There is something wrong with this picture." Beatrice stated making everyone turn towards her.

"What do you mean?" Freed asked with a curious disposition.

"Wasn't there a statue in the centre?" She pointed out everyone looked there. She was right it had moved.

Marcus cursed himself. He knew he should have double checked the statue. However that thing was at least 10 meters tall it wouldn't get far. He was too lost in thought. He barely realised that the street had darkened slightly. As if the light was being blocked. He looked up and his breath was caught in his throat.

"Marcus what's wrong?" Amber asked with a quizzical look. "Did you want some alone time with me?" She asked with a smirk. She took one step and he shouted with such hostility she froze.

"Don't move! Whatever you do! Don't move! Just stay right there!" It was only then she realised why he was looking up. Her head slowly craned till she too could see what lurked above them.

The Giant had moved. It positioned itself above them on top of the buildings It must have been laying down on them. It head was just peeking over the side. Its body was frozen and was immobile, but its stance was much more terrifying. It had one hand reaching down to grasp Amber. Its fingers only meters away from plucking her. However when she stopped moving it did too. But its eyes. They glared with such evil, a feeling of malice overcame her.

"Why is it just starring at me?" Amber squeaked when she backed away its hand retreated to its face. Gently feeling the mold around it. Reshaping it to a curious look.

"It only moved closer when we weren't watching." Marcus rejoined the others they all grouped together closely. Moving back towards the centre of the boss room.

Slowly, the clay giant turned to look at them its neck twisting unnaturally. Its body slowly began to manipulate till it followed them sitting down on top of the roofs. Its long feet swinging idly as it craned its neck. Eager to watch what they did next. Its hand moving to change its expression yet again. This time it was smiling an incredibly wide grin that took up more than half its face.

"This thing. Is terrifying. Why isn't its health bars appearing?" Keita asked with wavering courage.

"I have a few ideas. None that make sense. But I think its a stealth boss. Meant to trick us then strike." Freed responded he must have been right. A stealth boss. Nothing like that had been seen before.

"I don't care what it is. I just want to know why it hasn't attacked. Once I saw it. It should have striked. Why did it pull back? I want to try something." Marcus stepped forward shoving the rest of the group back. Its head at near blink speed twisted to look at him. Its eyes trained on him alone. It slowly began to reach out its hand. Ready to grasp him.

"Trust me!" He yelled back to the others, making them wait. Its fingers delicately grasped around him. Lifting him up towards its clay face. Its gray eyes scanned his body before setting him back down. Its eyes changed shifting towards one of the others. Since they were all grouped together they couldn't be certain who it was looking at.

Amber stepped forward. She looked at Marcus. He nodded for her to continue. Whatever this was, it wasn't some boss. It must have been some friendly NPC, maybe it had to asses a players skill to make the boss spawn. Marcus passed and he was free to fight the boss. Now Amber had to pass, then everyone else. Then it would spawn. Maybe the creator felt sorry for lower level players rushing to their deaths.

With a slow grip it gently tugged Amber upwards like a little doll. It lifted her to eye level. Doing the same scanning motion in its eyes. There was a flash, a sort of shimmer in the corner of its eye. It tilted its head, looking at her again. Its free hand started reforming its face.

In a gush of wind its arm swung down at violent speeds, blasting Marcus of his feet with the resultant force. He smashed into the brick buildings, causing massive damage. His eyes darted to his health, it remained steady over about a third. He looked back to Amber, she was struggling against its grip holding her spear, she jabbed at its hand trying to free herself. Thats when Marcus saw its face. This one wasn't a smile. Now he understood why it wanted Amber, initially. Why it set him down. This was a Personality Boss.

A Personality Boss, is one with an extremely specific set of code. Usually found on flag bosses, or on unique event mobs. But once on Floor 12 they fought one such boss. It was unique because it always countered and never attacked first. Relying on its riposte technique. This one seemed to be biased on its attacks. It seemed to prefer attacking females over men. And that only meant.

Its mouth snapped open wide, the stone based substance covering its skin, crumbled to the ground revealing its natural skin. Charred red flesh with bits of tattered skin covering the exposed wounds, steam vented from the exposed flesh. Its teeth were sharp and pointed. Its hands long and slender perfect for grabbing its targets. Then its health bar snapped on. It was bright red, and there was only one row.

Then without warning it bit down. Amber froze looking down at the lower half of her body, which had been taken in by the giant. Its teeth nearly cleaving her in half. It eyes teared up as it watched her. It opened its mouth throwing her aside like discarded meat.

Marcus felt a war wage in his chest. A fire so strong it burned his insides and made his skin sizzle. But he began to laugh, his eyes pressed to the ground. An uneasy and terrified grin of sheer pleasure became his face. His eyes wild and crazy, the others who were tending to the wounded Amber stared at him. Even the Boss wanted to see what was so funny.

"Have you ever danced with the Reaper in the pale moonlight? Neither have I."

"Stomp, Stomp. Ain't nobody gonna stop the clock!" The obnoxious boy in blue stamped his iron boots against the wooden floor of the western themed saloon. Nobody responded. What little amount of players inside just groaned as he walked in.

"Seriously does anybody know that song? Cause if not you're all a bunch of flabbergasted chunder snakes!" His insults rang hollow as nobody cared enough to answer. Everybody could taste the smell of some sort of strong alcoholic beverage in his breath, it diffused through the room quite powerfully.

"Dante. I don't think its quite right for you to be drinking at a time like this. Sit." A girl in black offered him a seat. If he was to remember, he organized a meeting with an information broker. Someone aided him in sitting down, a man in black and purple.

"Who's this." He muttered while blinking his eyes with great interest.

"This is my good friend. Oroboro, he is here to make sure this transaction goes... smoothly." The mysterious girl in black added with a subtle tone.

"Do you have what I'm looking for, Rena?" He forced his eyes to remain open so he could engage her in conversation.

"Perhaps. Do you have the coin to pay for this information?" She added twirling her raven hair while biting her lip seductively. Even though Dante was a little bit tipsy he could see an attempt at coercion.

"Drop the act baby doll, the rockets only launch once. Show me the info I show you the col." He teased mocking her hair twirling and lip biting. She slowly and graciously opened her inventory in an agonising pace she showed him the piece of paper. Instinctively he reached out for it a hand gripped his shoulder tight.

"Watch yourself drunkard. Don't want to lose a hand over a piece of paper." Oroboro reinforced the idea that he had to pay for the info. Dante pulled his hand back and paid the sum he offered her.

"Now that you've paid I have one question? Why did you offer to pay ten times the original value?" Rena wasn't one for asking questions about her clients motives, privacy and all that, but this one was different. He was a drunk and washed up player, he owed Col to more people than she had clients. No known friends or guild mates to vouch for him. Just a blank player buying cheap info for more money than he's worth. Peaked her interest.

"The location on this map. Is just a guild base. A murder guild. Everyone knows who they are. The Berserkers. They killed ten people in front of me in the blink of an eye. Then... assaulted my girlfriend and made me watch. She commit suicide a few days later. I pay ten times the original value. Cause my ten guild mates who lost their lives are paying for their revenge." He answered before standing up, taking a good long look at the map, he sneered then threw the piece of parchment into the fireplace of the saloon. Walking off with the spurs on his heels clanging.

"I'm sorry about your guild, if its any consolation." Rena added finally to the meeting.

"Don't be. They taught me how to fly."

The cold crescent blade streaked across the giants arm, cutting a large glowing red gash through its skin. Marcus back bent and his knees buckled when landing back on the ground. The Giant's health was at half, and soon enough. It went back to full. Its combat health regen was faster than anything he'd ever seen. However some parts of its body were stronger than others.

So he was prompted to believe it had a weak spot. Every now and then he would switch with someone else. Now was that time, he parried a strike from the Giant and let someone else take over. Now they had to reposition. The lower half of the Giant was much stronger than the upper half, so the clearer band climbed the buildings to get a better vantage point.

Everybody was fighting the boss. And since there was so few of them. They could all watch each other's backs. No losses yet, but many had been injured and their stamina drained. Amber one of the strongest players there was out of the picture. Freed was thrown through a building. And most of the Black Cats were recovering from fatigue. Only Keita, Marcus, Beatrice, and a few others could fight.

Keita rolled under the Giants legs as he finished up his attack. It was trying to grab him, but Beatrice swapped in. Her hammer colliding with its arm taking out a large chunk of its health. However its health was back in the green in a moments notice. Marcus ran up the wall utilising his speed stat. He bounced from one to the other climbing up the brick walls. Beth followed utilising the same tactic.

Soon it would be his turn and the cycle would continue. Climb back up try to damage, rinse repeat. But nothing was working. He already felt like collapsing, Beth too.

"Whats the point it just keeps healing!" Marcus screamed at the others.

"Yea but it has low defense we can kill it! We just need to know where to strike!" Beatrice ran ahead of him her large hammer glowing crimson. She soared much higher than anybody else before her. Reaching its face. She slammed the hammers head into the side of its neck, nearly bringing the Giant down to its knees from the force alone. She was on cooldown and as a hammer wielder her speed was reduced.

"Thats it! I need a stepping stone Beth." Marcus charged over the roof tops leaping into the air. Instead of attacking he waited for Beth to fly in below him. With a nod in her head he kicked off of her. Hurtling himself even higher. Till he was running along its arm.

The Giant flailed trying to shake off the the Scythe Wielder. Marcus dug the blade into its back holding on for dear life, while doing admirable damage. Once it stopped flailing instead using its arm to try and grab him. Marcus pulled the blade free. As he began to fall he jumped off of its grimy palm. Now face to face with the Giant.

"Crescent Rose!" He screamed, the Scythe responded by turning into a weapon of blood. Red shapes trailed of the weapon as he initiated his strongest Scythe Skill. He felt the weapon breaking apart as he began to twirl it in his hands.

Finally after a moment of charge up the code took over. He began swinging in every direction his body flitting around the head of the Boss, leaving after images of his previous attack giving the illusion of being in multiple places at once. He was spinning faster than even he could register. he watched as its health near the red. The the skill finished. He was left stunned. Forced to watch as its health returned to full. His last Scythe was breaking apart as he fell.

When he plummeted back to the ground, he didn't feel like getting up.

"This boss. He's too damn strong… Everyone! Retreat!" Marcus got up of his feet running for the exit, everyone was behind him, when they reached the doors. They were treated to a grand sight.

"Its not like you to run from a fight, Beater." Marcus smiled as he watched the cavalry swarm in. A slightly older man in plain plate armour held out his hand to the nearly collapsing younger boy.

"Its good to see you too Kibaou." Marcus took the stronger mans hand. Helping Marcus back to his feet.

"Aincrad Liberation Force! Charge! As for you Beater. You sit back and watch how this is really done." And that was that. Forty or so members of Kibaou's guild flooded the Hall with vigor and gusto. A refreshing feeling to the Belladonnas and Moonlit Black Cats. Who sat at the door watching the ALF attack.

The Giant began to spasm as more and more players swarmed it. Its neck began to bulge and explode. Its muscle began growing. As it watched the difficulty of its opposition vastly increase the boss evolved becoming stronger. A second head exploded from its neck showering the Guild below with flesh and blood. They however were not deterred by the development. Thats when the massacre began.

The Belladonnas and Moonlit Black Cats were forced to watch as the Giant laid waste to the ALF. Stomping them under foot. Or squeezing them to death with its hands. Showers of polygons and halations became the room. The Forty or so members had turned to thirty in only a few seconds. And it didn't stop there.

Marcus and the others were too low on stamina to move. Or assist. Or help in any sort of way. All they could do was watch as the Cleaners were slaughtered mercilessly under the Giants colossal strength. The feeling was utter dread and uselessness. They tried to stand to ran and fight but couldn't manage.

More and more soldiers stormed the chamber and they were killed either as soon as they joined the fray, or not long after. Kibaou did his best to command what he could, but the deaths kept piling up. And even he could only watch as more players lost their lives to the boss. Only proving to be cannon fodder.

Marcus couldn't watch anymore. He opened his inventory, finding the item he needed to get back into the fight. After a few seconds of scrolling he found it. The expensive alchemical combination, would give him a burst of stamina. While momentary would get him back in the action for at least a minute. He meant for it to be a last resort. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Marcus what are you doing? Leave it for when we are ready!" Amber shrieked as she too tried to stand. But her legs gave out and unlike her he could stand.

"I'm gonna cuts its heads off."

He began to walk. One foot leading the other in a constant march. When he felt he could run. His walk transformed into a sprint. His feet dancing across the floor as he became a blur. His heart slammed against his chest wanting to give out as exhaustion creeped up on him. Yet he was moving too fast for it overcome him. His hands were sweating from the tension and the leather grips were starting to get slippery. Yet he twisted the handle and kept marching on.

The brick walls he was accustomed too. His sprint transitioned from the solid floor to the crumbling bricks, running along the walls. He scrapped the Scythe against the hard surface kicking up sparks in all directions. The blade hooked onto the roof, twirling him on top of the tallest building in the arena. The Giant began staring down at him. They both knew only one was walking away from this.

Marcus closed his eyes. Hit mouth uttering a final prayer. He took a deep breath. Inhale. Letting the false air fill his make belief lungs. God why did this feel so real to him. Exhale. His eyes slammed open. This time he felt his fury pouring out. He jumped with a final battle cry, unknown to him. His gloves began to glow.

The words Death's Hands read below his health bar. Whatever he had done the gloves had activated, responding to some part inside of him. The glow from his gloves began to spread, expanding over the weapon, making it bask in brilliant light. He drew the weapon back. Ready for one titanic swing.

"Now with one swing, Jack lobbed of the Giants head!" Marcus screamed with strength he had never had before the Scythe ran straight through the necks of the Boss. Not slowing down there he continued to spin cutting off more of the head. Dicing it into ribbons.

He saw out of the corner of his eye. The Monster falling. Dead. Like the many others who had given their lives. So he could have his spurt of courage. And the scary thing, he didn't care. He didn't care that those randoms had died. After all, they were just faceless fodder. Right, the silhouettes in a crowd meant to make up the atmosphere? But no. Those were human lives. At minimum forty. Forty people died. He looked at the faces of the players from Kibaou's guild. All looked grim. And thats all he felt. Grim. How many had died, before he activated that unknown power.

The image popped up. Loot and Xp. Right, loot and xp. Thats all that really mattered loot to help him fight better. And Xp to make him stronger. Who cared if a few died? It was all for the greater good. After all the 25th floor had only taken a few hours to finish. Yet little did he know. Many more than just Kibaou's guild had lost their lives. Many, many more. At least now they could move on. And leave this hell hole behind.

He didn't want to look at the last attack bonus he would have gotten. But something intrigued him. There was another message coded in with this one. Like when he received the Scythe schematic. Oh the theatrics. This one wasn't different and he knew the item inside must have been related to the gloves and brutal weapon he bares. He opened it;

Good work my Champion.

You're one step closer to collecting the set.

Don't die.

Coat of the Dread Wolf was its name. Like the Gloves, Deaths Hands these too had writing underneath it along with its high leveled stats.

"Death is a vessel. Will you be at its helm?"

The question posed no answers to why he obtained this gear. Or who was giving it to him, reluctantly he put the coat on. When it appeared on his form he instantly felt a feeling of warmth as it fused with his character. The gloves melded with the jacket forming the second piece of the set. The jacket, its design was beyond anything he had ever seen before.

It was as black as the feathers on crows. The trims along the collar where covered in thick black fur similar to the fur on Beth. Prompting him to believe that it was the same material. The coat was long cutting down to the knees, with the hem shredded and tattered giving off a ghoulish and macabre appearance. The coat had a built in holster for a spear like weapon. Or in his case. A Scythe. The straps ran around his back fastening around his shoulders and upper chest. The coat was closed with four buttons resembling miniature wolf heads. The coat split at the beginning of his legs revealing the purple standard issue Belladonna uniform. Along the sleeves steel plates coated the forearm with a single plate pauldron on the left shoulder. His guess was it knew he was right handed And his left would be his weaker more exposed appendage. Making him amazed by the game once more. It was tight fitting yet the material was flexible enough for him to bend and twist his body.

"Go figure, beaters represent." Marcus shook his head at the simple notion that all 'Beaters' were identified by their black coats. Yet even his dry humour couldn't keep a smile on his face for long.

"Really a Jack and the Beanstalk reference?" He heard somebody laugh. The realisation made the perpetual frown, turn upside down.

"I thought it was appropriate." Marcus chuckled to himself, little did he know they all heard him. Leaving him all sorts of embarrassed.

"That was amazing. You know Makasu. You are a brilliant fighter, your hearts in the right place. Why don't you tag along with us for a while? I mean would you like too." Keita the Guild Leader propositioned the Scythe Wielder.

"Thanks but…" Marcus interrupted Kieta cause he knew there was no way he'd up and leave the guild... A message popped up on his interface, with the title Urgent.

He opened it with haste. He rarely got Urgent messages, unless they were from Blake. Or Amber trying to get his attention. The message read;

Makasu report to Hemlock Grove Immediately, I need your Scythe Skill. The DDA have declared war on us and we need to be ready for an assault. Get your gear and meet me as soon as possible.

Any other day, he would have suited up and run along to play soldier. But this wasn't a regular day. All he could read was the words Scythe skill. Was that all he was to the Belladonnas? A weapon. A unique asset. Best kept close in times of need. Taken of the front lines. For some squabble, between Blake and the DDA. Taken from helping clear hell, to fight in its lesser trenches. Instead of replying he opened up another window. After pressing a few buttons. His finger hovered over the final ending. He couldn't help but feel the irony.

"When I play this game. I feel like my choices never mean a thing. I know its a role playing game. But I never thought anything I did would ever have an impact. After all I'm one in ten thousand doing the exact same thing. Making decisions. Buy now, I feel the true element comes out as I make my grandest decision to date. With decisions that could possibly end or save lives. I like not knowing what I do can decide between life and death, it's much better than the alternative." He pushed the button. Now all it said was;

"Are you sure you want to proceed?"

He pressed yes. Soon the emblem on his pants began to fade. The purple on his remaining clothing disappeared. All that was left was black and forgotten.

"What do you mean by any of that Makasu?" Keita asked with an interested look.

"It means I'd like to take you up on your offer. Can I join the Moonlit Black Cats?"

"AND ITS SHOW TIME!" A high pitch male voice rang out through the town, thought to be a safe zone. Many players found on the level gathered to see what was going to happen. They all gathered around a centre stage where a man in lime green clothes was dancing and waving a purple flower around like a fool. Many laughed at his antics, some were waiting to see what happened next.

"Today is a grand day for all ladies gents, Hobos and tramps, ugly mosquitoes and colourful hammer pants. I stand before you all, to tell you a story worthy of the big and small. One bright morning in the middle of the night, two dead men stood up to fight. They stood back to back, facing each other, they drew their swords and shot one other. If you don't believe my lie, its true! The blind lady saw it too! Morale of the story, any minute now this place is going to get gory. I have taken up enough of your time. My names Harlequin, and you are my opening act…uin! Sorry…" The man revealed a small blue crystal in his right hand. A devils smile crafted along his long and ghoulish face brightened with blood red lipstick. His voice which had been cheery and clownish now changed to a much darker and huskier tone.

"That didn't even rhyme." He looked over his shoulder at the gate behind him. A group of men had killed the NPC guards that stood at watch at the south gate. They gave him the thumbs up. And his smile only grew.

"Now I hate to be an villainous sport but my viewers want to see whats next. So I'll just up and leave to start the action scene. Toodalooo! Oh and remember! Every good story needs a powerful antagonist and this is my origin scene!" He began to laugh holding up the crystal, he muttered a few silent words and disappeared.

The players who had gathered around him. Were now confused what was he talking about? That chatter was cut short as they felt the very ground shake.

Thud

Thud

Thud

Thud

It sounded like… footsteps?

"RAHHHHHH!" The creature bellowed as it barreled onto stage sending many players sprawling for their weapon. It looked like a large bear but with axe like paws. It began to try and dice its way through the horrified crowd. The players who ran now understood what the Harlequin had meant. He had lured the monster there. In an attempt to make a name for himself. He attempted the impossible, and succeeded. He could kill players in a safe zone, by luring mobs to enter the town. He had done just that.

"I wonder how long it will take people to steal my trick? Until next time, Harlequin out."